Use the access method services DELETE command to delete catalogs, cataloged data sets, objects, tape library entries, and tape volume entries. With this command, you can delete anything you can define or create with access method services.

The access method services ALTER, CREATE, and DELETE commands should only be used to recover from tape volume catalog (VOLCAT) errors. Because access method services cannot change the library manager inventory in an automated tape library, ISMF should be used for normal tape library ALTER, CREATE, and DELETE functions. DELETE can also be used for deleting erroneous records from BCSs, VVDSs, and VTOCs.

This section focuses on deleting catalogs and other system or sensitive data. For information on using DELETE to delete the entries for a data set (not the data set itself) from a BCS, VVDS, or VTOC, see Updating the Catalog After Recovery.

Before using the DELETE command, review the command description in z/OS DFSMS Access Method Services Commands.